bug facts

At Lenny’s Pest Control of Southwest Florida we are always on the lookout for news, articles and valuable information to share with you about the Pest Control world. Today we would like to share this very important information on Spiders – how to identify them and understand if they are dangerous or venomous. If you would like a FREE spider Identification Chart along with First Aid spider bit procedures click here.

Spider identification of venomous and dangerous spiders most commonly found in homes, their habitat areas and venom toxicity.

Habitat – brown recluse is found in the United States from the east to the west coast, with predominance in the south.

Spider Identification – an adult spider is 1/4 to 3/4 inch in body – a dark violin shape is located on the top of the leg attachment region with the neck of the violin pointing backward toward the abdomen. Unlike most spiders that have 8 eyes, the brown recluse has 6 eyes arranged in pairs – one pair in front and a pair on either side.

BLACK WIDOW SPIDER

Black Widow Spiders …highly venomous – can be deadly

Venom toxicity – the Black Widow Spider can inflict a painful bite which can be fatal, especially to the young and elderly. An effective anti-venom was developed in 1956. Only a small amount of venom can cause serious illness, as the poison attacks the nervous system. Systemic envenomisation usually results in headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pyrexia and hypertension. The pain around the bite area can be excruciating or it may go unnoticed. First aid and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible, if bitten. If you have heart condition or other heart problem, you may need hospitalization.

Spider Identification – the body of an adult black widow is about 1/2 inch long. The female black widow is normally shiny black, with a red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. The marking may range in color from yellowish orange to red and its shape may range from an hourglass to a dot.

Habitat – prefers woodpiles, rubble piles, under stones, in hollow stumps, sheds and garages. Indoors it can be found in undisturbed, cluttered areas in basements and crawl spaces.

BLACK WIDOWSPIDER

Hobo Spiders : venomous – dangerous?

Venom toxicity – although the bite of the hobo spider is initially painless, the bite can be serious. After 24 hours, the bite develops into a blister and after 24-36 hours, the blister breaks open, leaving an open, oozing ulceration. Typically when the venom is injected, the victim will experience an immediate redness, which develops around the bite. The most common reported symptom is severe headache. Other symptoms can include nausea, weakness, fatigue, temporary memory loss and vision impairment. In any case, first aid and medical attention should be sought, if bitten, as and when any adverse health effects are observed.

Spider Identification – they are brown in color and the adults measure roughly 1/3 to 2/3 inch in body length and 2/3 to 2 inches in leg span. Their abdomens have several chevron shaped markings. Males are distinctively different from females in that they have two large palpi (mouth parts) that look like boxing gloves. Females tend to have a larger and rounder abdomen when compared to males.

Habitat – they can be found anywhere in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. They rarely climb vertical surfaces and are uncommon above basements or ground level.

GRASSSPIDER

Funnel Web Grass Spiders: low risk, non-aggressive

Venom toxicity – the bite of these spiders is of low risk to humans.

Spider Identification – are common outdoors and are occasionally found indoors. They are generally brownish or grayish with light and dark stripes near the head. They have long spinnerets and are moderate-sized (3/4 inch long). Grass spiders construct a large sheet web with a funnel they use as a retreat. These webs are commonly built on the ground, around steps, window wells, foundations, and low shrubs.

Habitat – These spiders are often called grass spiders because they construct their webs in tall grass, heavy ground cover and the branches of thick shrubs. Rarely will a funnel web spider be seen indoors, except for an occasional wandering male. They are found mostly in the Pacific Northwest states.

FEMALEMOUSE SPIDER

Mouse Spiders …venomous – painful bite

Venom toxicity – known to cause severe illness, especially to young children – similar to Red-Back Spider. Although normally not aggressive, the male mouse spider will bite if provoked, and should be considered dangerous to humans. It has large hard fangs which can cause a deep painful bite. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as possible.

Spider Identification – a medium to large spider of up to 1 and 1/2 inches in body length. The male Mouse Spider often has a bright red head and elongated fangs.

MALEMOUSE SPIDER

Habitat – Mouse spiders are ground dwellers with burrows of more than 3 feet deep. The male often wanders about during the day on open ground, especially after rain, in search of females. Notes: the male Mouse Spider is smaller than the female mouse spider and has a red tip but otherwise looks very similar to the female spider. We are showcasing both here for you to be able to better identify if you have had contact with either a male or female Mouse Spider.

BLACKHOUSE SPIDER

Black House Spiders …venomous – nausea

Venom toxicity – the bite of the Black House Spider is poisonous but not lethal. Certain people bitten experience severe pain around the bite site, heavy sweating, muscular pains, vomiting, headaches and giddiness. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as possible.

Spider Identification – adults are about 1/2 inch in body length and of a dark brown to black velvet textured appearance.

Habitat – this spider spins a lacy, messy web and is prefers dry habitats in secluded locations. It is commonly found in window framing, under eaves, gutters, in brickwork, sheds, toilets and among rocks and bark. Electric lights attract their prey – moths, flies, mosquitoes and other insects.

WOLF SPIDER

Wolf Spiders …venomous – non-aggressive

Venom toxicity – the bite of the Wolf Spider is poisonous but not lethal. Although non-aggressive, they bite freely if provoked and should be considered dangerous to humans. The bite may be very painful. First aid and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible, particularly as to children or the elderly.

Spider Identification – an adult is 1/2 inch to more than 1 inch in body length – mottled gray to brown in color, with a distinct Union Jack impression on its back. The female carries it’s young on its back.

Habitat – this spider is a ground dweller, with a burrow retreat. It has a roving nocturnal lifestyle to hunt their prey and can move very rapidly when disturbed. Commonly found around the home, in garden areas with a silk lined burrow, sometimes with a lid or covered by leaf litter or grass woven with silk as a little fence around the rim of the burrow.

FEMALE TRAP-DOOR

Trap-Door Spiders …low risk – non-aggressive

Venom toxicity – the bite of the Trap-Door Spider is of low risk (non toxic) to humans. It is a non-aggressive spider – usually timid but may stand up and present it’s fangs if harassed. Rarely bites – but if so it can be painful.

Spider Identification – an adult is about 1 and 1/2 inches in body length – brown to dark brown in color – heavily covered with fine hairs. The male has distinct boxing glove-shaped palps, that is, the two “sensory feelers” at front of its head.

Habitat – this spider is a ground dweller, with a burrow retreat lined with silk of up to 10 inches in depth and around 1 inch in width – prefers nesting in drier exposed locations – often has a wafer-like lid on the burrow entrance. Trap-Door Spiders are commonly found in the drier open ground areas around the home.

GARDENORB-WEAVING

Orb-Weaving Spiders …low risk – non-aggressive

Venom toxicity – the bite of Orb-Weaving Spiders is of low risk (not toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive group of spiders. Seldom bite. Be careful not to walk into their webs at night – the fright of this spider crawling over one’s face can be terrifying and may cause a heart attack, particularly to the susceptible over 40 year olds.

Spider Identification – an adult is about 2/3 to more than 1 inch in body length – has a bulbous abdomen – often colorful – dark to light brown pattern. The common Golden Orb-Weaver Spider has a purplish bulbous abdomen with fine hairs.

Habitat – often found in summer in garden areas around the home – they spin a large circular web of 6 feet or more, often between buildings and shrubs, to snare flying insects, such as, flies and mosquitoes.

SAINT ANDREW’S CROSS

St Andrews Cross Spiders …low risk – non-aggressive

Venom toxicity – the bite of the St Andrews Cross is of low risk (non-toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive group of spiders.

Spider Identification – adult 1/4″ to 1/2″ in body length – abdomen striped yellow and brown – as illustrated. The St Andrews Cross Spider usually sits, upside down, in the middle of its web forming a cross – as illustrated.

Habitat – this spider is a web-weaver usually found in summer in garden areas around the home. It is considered beneficial as it spins a large web to snare flying insects, such as flies and mosquitoes.

HUNTSMANSPIDER

Huntsman Spiders …low risk – non-aggressive

Venom toxicity – the bite of Huntsman Spiders is of low risk (non toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive group of spiders. However, a large individual can give a painful bite. Beware in summer when the female Huntsman Spider is guarding her egg sacs or young.

Spider Identification – an adult varies greatly around 1/2″ in body length – has long legs – the diameter of an adult including legs may reach 2″ – the first 2 pairs of legs are longer than rear two – it is hairy – buff to beige brown in color, with dark patches on the body.

Habitat – a hunter that prefers to live under the flaking bark of trees, under flat rocks and under eaves or within roof spaces of buildings. The Huntsman Spider often wanders into homes and is found perched on a wall. It is a shy, timid spider that can move sideways at lighting-fast speed when disturbed.

Click here to view original article with more details on first aid instructions for each spider as well as a FREE Spider Identification Chart from Termite.com.

Lenny’s Pest Control is all about educating you and helping you protect your home or office space from unwanted, bugs and pests. We always take time to answer all your questions and educate you about what needs to be done for your home, office or lawn. We are experienced in tackling ants, roaches, mice, the Whitefly, GRUBS, termites and any other insects in your yard or living space. We have a team of experts that specialize in Southwest Florida Pest Control inside and outside of your home or place of business and we do the job right the first time. Don’t try to fix it yourself, let the experts handle all of your pest control problems! We proudly service Residential or Commercial clients in the Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties. Call us at 239-443-7219 / 239-243-4965 to get a quote today!

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage.

9 Natural Tips To Keeping Spiders Out Of Your Home

If you’re one of those people that jumps at the sight of a spider, this blog post is for you. We love sharing the good stuff and we hope you like this one!

Even though most spiders are completely harmless and more afraid of us than we are of them they aren’t something we want to share our personal living space with at all! So we looked around for some easy ways to help you keep them creepy crawly ugly spiders away from you and your family. If these natural remedies don’t work for you or you don’t have time to spray vinegar or peppermint all over your house just give us a call at 239-443-7219 and we’ll take care of the spider problem for you!

Mint Them Out

Did you know that spiders HATE peppermint? Most people don’t! An easy way to keep spiders from invading your space is to fill a spray bottle with peppermint essential oil and water, and then spray it around your home. Plus, your home will smell great!!

Clean It Up

The cheapest and most organic way to repel spiders naturally is probably not the easiest! Keeping your home neat, tidy and free of dust or webs is the best way to keep spiders from moving in. Regular vacuuming, dusting, and de-cluttering will keep any insects from making themselves at home!

Use Vinegar

White vinegar has about five trillion uses around the house (look it up!), and repelling spiders is one of them! Repelling spiders with vinegar is much like repelling them with peppermint oil, in that you fill a spray bottle with vinegar and water, and spray all the cracks and crevices around your home. (The smell goes away as soon as it dries.)

Enlist The Help Of A Furry Friend

Cats are a great spider deterrent! Four legged furry friends can be great hunters and will definitely not let a spider crawl across the floor without going on the prowl and taking care of business!

Don’t Let Them In

A great way to keep spiders out of your home is to never let them in in the first place! Make sure the exterior of your home is free from leaves, grass clippings, wood piles, or any other notorious spider hangouts. You can also check all door openings and windowsills to make sure there isn’t room for spiders to get in that way,and apply caulk when needed.

Citrus Does The Trick

It’s common knowledge that spiders hate all things citrus. Rubbing citrus peels on areas where spiders are known to frequent, like baseboards, windowsills and bookshelves, is a great way to keep them from coming around. Even using lemon scented furniture polish can drive spiders away!

Let Cedar Do The Work

Cedar can be a great deterrent for spiders. You can use cedar mulch outside around the perimeter of your home to try to keep spiders from ever getting inside. If you have access to a cedar chest or cedar hangers to use in your closet, that is a good choice as well. Using cedar blocks or shavings inside closets, cupboards or drawers can make them think twice about hanging out in there too!

Chestnuts

Yes, you read that right, chestnuts! They have been known to drive away spiders, so placing a few in your windowsills or along your baseboards can keep spiders from hanging out there. Many people also believe that the same thing can be done with an osage orange (also known as a hedgeapple) You can keep chestnuts and hedgeapples in the house for a long time before they go bad, so it’s worth giving it a shot!

Tobacco

It sounds weird, but spiders hate tobacco just about as much as they hate lemons and chestnuts! You can sprinkle small pieces of tobacco where spiders are troublesome, or you can soak tobacco in water and then spray the mixture all around. However, tobacco is pretty expensive these days, so you can likely find a more affordable fix for keeping spiders at bay! (you might not want to use this option if you have pets)

#10 on our list is a bonus tip – Call the experts at Lenny’s Pest Control and as about our Perimeter Pest Control Service. We’ll make sure you don’t have to worry about spiders, ants or any other kinds of bugs in and around your home!

Lenny’s Pest Control is all about educating you and helping you protect your home or office space from unwanted, bugs and pests. We always take time to answer all your questions and educate you about what needs to be done for your home, office or lawn. We are experienced in tackling ants, roaches, mice, the Whitefly, GRUBS, termites and any other insects in your yard or living space. We have a team of experts that specialize in Southwest Florida Pest Control inside and outside of your home or place of business and we do the job right the first time. Don’t try to fix it yourself, let the experts handle all of your pest control problems! We proudly service Residential or Commercial clients in the Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties. Call us at 239-443-7219 / 239-243-4965 to get a quote today!

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage.

At Lenny’s Pest Control of Southwest Florida we are always on the lookout for news, articles and valuable information to share with you about the Pest Control world. Today we would like to share this article we found on Roach facts. This winter has been quite a wet one so don’t be surprised if you see them coming in out of the wet cold and into your warm dry space. Remember, we are always here and available to come out to your home or place of business and give you a FREE quote on our services. It’s much better to call the experts and have us give you the peace of mind that your home is truly protected. Call 239-945-6543 today to schedule your appointment and be sure to check our specialsso you can save money while you protect your home and family from those yucky unwanted pests!

Amazing Roach Facts

Run for Your Lives!

The world’s largest roach (which lives in South America) is six inches long with a one-foot wingspan.

Roaches By the Numbers

6 — Number of legs on a cockroach

18 — Number of knees on most cockroaches (at least!)

40– Number of minutes cockroaches can hold their breath

75 — Percentage of time that cockroaches spend just resting (how lazy can you get?)

5,000 — Number of species of cockroaches worldwide

280 million+ — Years ago that cockroaches are thought to have originated (during the Carboniferous era)

Bad News

Some female cockroaches mate once and are pregnant for the rest of their lives (bummer).

The Legend of the Headless Cockroach

A cockroach can live a week without its head. The roach only dies because without a mouth, it can’t drink water and dies of thirst.

Wanna Race?

Cockroaches can run up to three miles in an hour. (Hey, it’s no marathon, but it’s not bad.)

Better Check Those Cracks in the Wall

Young cockroaches need only a crack as thin as a dime (about .5mm wide) to crawl into. Adult males can squeeze into a space of 1.6mm or the thickness of a quarter. Pregnant females need the most space to hide: 4.5mm or a space as tall as two stacked nickels.

Little Hearts

A cockroach heart is nothing but a simple tube with valves. The tube can pump blood backwards and forwards in the insect. The heart can even stop moving without harming the roach.

If these facts aren’t enough to satisfy you (you must really want to impress your friends)

Thirsty Critters

Roaches can live without food for a month, but will only survive a week without water.

When Cold, Roaches Snuggle

Most species of roaches live in the tropics. But roaches live all over the world, including the North and South Poles. Pest cockroaches can withstand temperatures as cold as 32°F (0°C), but will die if the temperature goes much below that. In extremely cold places, however, they survive by moving in with humans. (Hey, quit hogging the covers!)

Better Than Air Jordans!

Cockroaches can climb walls because they are equipped with a set of little claws on their feet designed for that very purpose.

Crushed-Roach Bandages?

Crushed cockroaches can be applied to a stinging wound to help relieve the pain.

Smell You Later

Sniff, sniff…oh, it’s just Uncle Leo. Roaches use their feelers, or antennae, as noses. Their sense of smell is so great, they recognize family and friends by their distinctive odors.

Roach Perfume

Female roaches attract male roaches by producing pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals that make the female roach smell REALLY good to the male roach.

Alright Kids, Beat It!

Some female cockroaches incubate their egg cases in their bodies until they are ready to hatch. These babies stay with their mothers a day or two after they are born.

Yuck!

Male cockroaches transfer sperm to females in a “gift-wrapped” package called a spermatophore. Some males cover the package in a protein-rich wrapping that the female can eat to obtain nutrients to raise her young. Delicious!

Lenny’s Pest Control is all about educating you and helping you protect your home or office space from unwanted, bugs and pests. We always take time to answer all your questions and educate you about what needs to be done for your home, office or lawn. We are experienced in tackling ants, roaches, mice, the Whitefly, GRUBS, termites and any other insects in your yard or living space. We have a team of experts that specialize in Southwest Florida Pest Control inside and outside of your home or place of business and we do the job right the first time. Don’t try to fix it yourself, let the experts handle all of your pest control problems! We proudly service Residential or Commercial clients in the Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties. Call us at 239-945-6543 to get a quote today!

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage.

As temperatures start to warm up, bugs and other pests will attempt to seek shelter in homes and office buildings. There is always an increase in inquiries for pest control services during the months of May, June and July. So when the pest control job gets too big for a fly swatter, mousetrap or do-it-yourself spray, it could be time to call in a professional. Lenny’s Pest Control is just that professional you need in the Southwest Florida area!

To help prevent pests from entering your home, make sure there are not any outside openings such as torn screens, cracks under the door or foundation issues. We also recommend you check and reapply any worn out weather stripping around outside doors and windows.

Pest control is like visiting the doctor: To prescribe effective treatment, your physician must correctly diagnose the problem, and determine the extent of the injury as well as the potential for further injury. The doctor must then use this information, along with knowledge of applicable treatments available for that particular condition. He/she must then consider which treatment(s) is best. In pest control, we call this process Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the foundation of successful pest control. Using IPM, we first identify the pest and gather information about the infestation. Then we choose the best method(s) of control for the situation, after considering the safety, effectiveness, environmental effects and cost of each method.

In many situations, pesticide application may be the best method. In other situations, non-toxic methods such as trapping, sealing food and reducing moisture can be used more effectively than pesticides. More often, several types of chemical, mechanical, and environmental methods are used in combination, i.e., integrated, to produce the best results.

We carefully discuss all pest problems and solution opportunities with you before taking any action. We take into consideration all of your needs and concerns and make sure to answer all your questions so you always feel comfortable with the pest control plan we create for you.

Lenny’s Pest Control is all about educating you and helping you protect your home and space from unwanted, bugs and pests. We would love to come out to your home or business and inspect your property, give you an estimate and get your protected. Please give us a call at (239) 945-6543 for all your pest control needs in southwest Florida.

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook, following us on twitter and connecting with us on LinkedIn. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage!

We love spring! This is a beautiful and wonderful time of year with great weather and an open invitation to enjoy the outdoors! Who doesn’t love to take a walk around the block or pull out a chair in the backyard to just enjoy the nice cool evening breeze and count the stars. I have a neighbor that loves to air dry her laundry in the spring because the weather is perfect and she loves spending time outside for a change. We happen to live in paradise so why not enjoy it’s many gifts of nature? Oh but not all of natures gifts are enjoyable or even wanted! This is the time of year to look out for termites, rodents and fire ants among other unwanted pests. If you haven’t already protected your home now is a good time to consider giving us a call and getting some peace of mind! Below are a few of natures lovely gifts you might want to look out for this time of year. Click on the links or images to read more.

TERMITES – Do you know what swarming season is? Termites begin swarming in mid to late February through late March and have been feeding all winter, summer, spring and fall. This is the first visible evidence of termites and their swarm is commonly mistaken as “flying ants”. Turning on your heat on a cold day can cause these termites to immediately start flying out of your walls. Scary thought huh? Termite damage can get quite expensive in a home, is yours protected? Click hereto read more…

RODENTS – Springtime means peak breeding season for commensal pests and rodents! Who knew? Roof rats breed throughout the year, with two peaks of production: In February and March and again in May and June. The period of least activity is in July and August. The gestation period is approximately 21 days, and the number of young per litter averages almost seven. Is your home protected? Click hereto read more…

FIRE ANTS – It’s true, ants are super busy this time of year and fire ants are especially dangerous pest to have anywhere near your living quarters. Red Imported Fire Ant mounds are not hard to come by in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and the surrounding Southwest Florida areas. Mounds may be found almost anywhere in Southwest Florida: grass, sidewalk cracks, under objects like rocks, on beaches or near water. Fire ants are vigorous and aggressive creatures here in Southwest Florida. They will instantaneously swarm over anyone or anything that disturbs their mound such as: animals, birds, livestock, pets, or people. This is the time of year when kids love to go out to play in the yard, is your family, yard and home protected against fire ants? Click hereto read more…

Lenny’s Pest Control is all about educating you and helping you protect your home and space from unwanted, bugs and pests. We would love to come out to your home or business and inspect your property, give you an estimate and get your protected. Please give us a call at (239) 945-6543 for all your pest control needs in southwest Florida.

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook, following us on twitter and connecting with us on LinkedIn. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage!

Although we haven’t had much in the form of a winter it is that time of year when we need to start thinking about spring and some of the concerns warm weather can bring. One of these pesky issues is the fire ant. At Lenny’s Pest Control we feel it’s very important to educate our customers on how to avoid unwanted bugs and pests. Our blog is dedicated to informing and educating you on what you need to know about bugs and how we can help protect your home – today we’d like to educate you on Fire Ants!

Fire ants don’t bite; they will sting; similar to a wasp. They hold on with their mouth parts and inject venom into skin through a stinger on their abdomen. It is possible to be stung hundreds of times if you unknowingly disturb a mound.

When stung by Red Imported Fire Ants a strong stinging and burning sensation will immediately erupt near the spot you were stung. After the Fire Ants stings, the area will swell to a red bump and become itchy. Some people may have an allergic reaction to the stings and might require medical attention. The venom is called solenopsin composed of alkaloids.

These insects are also known as the “red imported fire ants”. This is considered to be a more appropriate name because they were introduced originally in Alabama by a South American cargo ship in the 1930s. A few other names known worldwide for the Fire Ant is ginger ants and tropical fire ants. There are over 280 known stinging species of ants. Fire Ants are classified in this group.

Red Imported Fire Ant mounds are not hard to come by in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and the surrounding Southwest Florida areas. Mounds may be found almost anywhere in Southwest Florida: grass, sidewalk cracks, under objects like rocks, on beaches or near water. Fire ant colonies have been found inside cars or trucks. Fire ants are known to be attracted to electrical currents. The best description of a mound is that it looks like a sand pile. Beware if you see a mound with no movement, they sometimes tend to be buried under the sand. Once you cause activity in their mound they will swarm out by the hundreds. Fire ants are vigorous and aggressive creatures here in Southwest Florida. They will instantaneously swarm over anyone or anything that disturbs their mound such as: animals, birds, livestock, pets, or people. They have been found to cause considerable damage to air conditioners, telephone junction boxes, transformers, traffic lights, and even gasoline pumps.

Fire Ants can be controlled by a two different methods. Lenny’s Pest Control is an expert in preventing, controlling and exterminating fire ants from your personal living space and surrounding areas. We have specific treatments that we apply to problem areas that work every time! If you have a fire ant or other pest control problem please call us at 239-945-6543 or click here to visit our site.

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook, following us on twitter and connecting with us on LinkedIn. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage!

Lenny’s Pest Control is all about educating you and helping you protect your home and space from unwanted, bugs and pests. We would love to come out to your home or business and inspect your property, give you an estimate and get your protected. Please give us a call at (239) 945-6543 for all your pest control needs in southwest Florida. Our blog is dedicated to informing and educating you on what you need to know about bugs – today we’d like to educate you on Subterranean Termites!

Subterranean Termites require some moisture to survive, so their nests usually contact the soil. If there’s enough moisture in a wall or other wood structure, though, termites may nest right in the wood.

Subterranean termites live in the ground, unlike other termites which living inside the wood they eat. The ground provides the moisture needed by the subterranean termites. When they find a food source above ground they build a safe pathway or “mud tube” to create a connection from their home to the food.

Subterranean termites are among the most destructive to wood, which they consume for food. In nature, termites are beneficial to ecosystems as they break down dead trees, but they are damaging to wood structures such as houses and barns. Three main types of adult termites live within a colony: reproducer (also known as alates or swarmers), soldiers and workers. Subterranean termites get their name from the underground, interconnected tunnels they create.

Subterranean Termites Swarmers– Soft-bodied insects with straight antennas, broad waists approximately ¼ inch in length and two pair of wings of equal length.In Florida, the major swarm normallyoccurs in early spring, between February through May. Swarming can occur mid morning through late afternoon, most often right after a rain shower and warm sunny conditions are present. The environmental conditions (Humidity) will allow the Swarmers to take flight, mate and find their way back to a soil and/or moisture environment to start colonization. Swarming Termites are normally attracted to light and after flight will shed their wing. Swarmer bodies with and without wings are found near windows, bathrooms, vents, light fixtures and doors Subterranean Termites. Swarmers can only survive in the open environment less than 24 hours depending on the humidity levels. Swarmers do not eat wood/cellulose material and their sole purpose is to successfully mate and colonize at a suitable protective environment.

Exit holes– Swarming termites will normally swarm from an exist hole that was created by the Subterranean Termite (worker), the only cast member that eats and damages the wood. The exit holes

Termites are highly social insects with one of the most sophisticated family structures in the animal kingdom. There are approximately 2,700 species of termites found worldwide.

Mud Tunnels / Tubes –Foraging Subterranean Termite workers construct mud tunnels, size of a drinking straw that are environmentally controlled and as a protective highway from one location to the next.

All Termites

Are social insects (have overlapping generations, reproductive division of labor, and brood care)

In natural areas, termites are essential organisms in the environment. Termites decompose cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls and recycle nutrients back into the soil for use by other living organisms. Termites are also an important food source for many amphibians, reptiles and birds. Unfortunately, termites receive a bad reputation because they are unable to distinguish between the dead wood in the forest and the dead wood used in our homes.

We want to take this time to say THANK YOU for reading our blogs, liking us on Facebook, following us on twitter and connecting with us on LinkedIn. Please subscribe to our newsletter if you haven’t already done so. We also appreciate our many loyal clients for all their years of patronage and we hope you have a wonderful 2012!

Lenny’s Pest Control has a team of experts that specialize in Southwest Florida Pest Control inside and outside of your home. We are experienced in tackling Termites and any other insects in your living space. Don’t try to fix it yourself, let the experts handle all of your pest control problems! We proudly service the Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties. Call us at 239-945-6543 or visit our website at http://www.lennyspestcontrol.com/to get a quote today!

Do you remember the bedtime nursery rhyme: “Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don’t let the bed bugs bite!”? Do you ever wonder where that came from? Well, we’re the curious kind so we did a little digging and found some interesting stuff to share with you today. First, this is just one variation of that nursery rhyme:

Good night, sleep tight, Don’t let the bedbugs bite. And if they do Then take your shoe And knock ‘em ‘til They’re black and blue!

Well we certainly know what bed bugs are, but do you? If you’re not familiar and don’t have all the details, you’re definitely in the right place today! Every now and then we’ll get a call about a bed bug infestation and it’s never pretty! I believe that if more people had the knowledge and information about bed bugs, how they pick ’em up, what the signs are and how to treat them… maybe they wouldn’t wait so long to call. Bed bugs are like any other pest you can come across – the longer you have them, the more time they have to reproduce and that only increases the treatments level of difficulty.

Bed bugs bite and suck blood from humans. Bed bugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bed bug bites. The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected. A peculiarity of bed bug bites is the tendency to find several bites lined up in a row. Infectious-disease specialists refer to this as the “breakfast, lunch, and dinner” sign, signifying the sequential feeding that occurs from site to site.

Basically if you or your family: babies, children, elderly have bites or what looks like a rash on your skin – you need to check for bed bugs! Infestations of Bed Bugs are up 5000 percent as are the number of reported attacks! The nightmare begins when a Bed Bug finds its way into your clothing; it usually happens at a hotel but can start anywhere.

Hospitals, businesses, homes, buses, apartments and hotels are just a few places where bed bugs are being reported. It is said that bed bugs don’t transmit disease from feeding on your blood; however, an engorged bedbug can burst at the slightest bit of pressure exposing you to human blood. If that blood is infected, then you run a risk of infection as well.

Finding bed bugs in your home has nothing to do with poor hygiene! It takes only one bed bug to hitch a ride on your clothing (furniture, suitcase, etc) and infest your residence. What’s worse is that they can live up to one year without drinking a drop of your blood. Feeding takes about 10 to 15 minutes for adults and less for the nymphs; they feed about every three days. Depending on the conditions, bed bug nymphs can survive for months without feeding.

The eggs are white and about 1mm long. The nymphs look like adults but are smaller. Complete development from egg to adult takes from four weeks to several months depending on the temperature and amount of feed available. Bedbugs have been known by a variety of names including wall louse, mahogany flat, crimson rambler, heavy dragoon, chinche, and redcoat.

Bed Bugs Quick Facts:

Bed Bugs are flat, brown, wingless and about 1/4 of an inch

They have 6 legs, shiny reddish-brown but after a good serving of your blood, they appear dark brown and swollen as in the picture below.

They can be seen with the human eye, but do a great job at hiding

Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases as of yet

They feed on human blood preferring to do it in the dark when you’re sleeping

Simply using chemical treatments will not remove the infestation

These bugs love to hide in the seams of your mattress including:

Sofa seams

Cracks in the bad frame and or head-board

Under chairs, couched, beds and dust covers

Under rugs, edges of carpets, drawers, baseboards and window casings

Behind light switches, electrical outlet plates, cracks in plaster

Televisions, radio clocks and phones

Backpacks, Sleeping bags, Cloths

Behind wallpaper, picture frames and other dark areas

If you suspect you have an infestation, you should contact us or a licensed exterminator. You can try to do it yourself , but your odds are a lot better letting a licensed professional handle it. We’ve been exterminating bed bugs for years and we know exactly what works and what doesn’t. We tested, tried and researched it all and our methods are the safest, quickest and best way to get your home bed bug free at a price you can actually afford!

A few ways to prevent bed bugs from getting into your home include:

Hang clothing in the closet farthest from the bed

Place luggage on the folding rack found in most hotels

Place luggage in the dry cleaning bag found in the hotel.

Most important, don’t bring home a mattress that has been used by unknown sources.

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